The movement underway with large agribusinesses wanting to connect their sustainability programs more closely with their suppliers could mean some new advantages and opportunities for market-savvy no-tillers.

Passage of a unique concept that got Congressional consideration during the writing of the 2018 Farm Bill could put more dollars in the pockets of no-tillers. It’s an idea that farmers who use no-till, cover crops and conservation-minded crop rotations to protect the soil should be rewarded with an equivalent of auto insurance’s “good driver discount” when it comes to paying crop insurance premiums.

With significant weather-related damage to corn and soybean fields in Nebraska recently, there could be an opportunity for growers to try seeding cover crops in those fields to raise a high-quality forage and offset at least some of the lost fall and winter grazing potential, says University of Nebraska Extension.

Cover crops can be used for different reasons, such as to provide soil erosion protection, alleviate compaction, control weeds, fix atmospheric nitrogen for the next crop, harvest for hay, and as a grazing resource. The reason for using a cover crop will determine which species or mixture of species you choose, as well as how you manage it.

Holtwood, Pa., no-tiller Steve Groff no-tills pumpkins with this Monosem planter that includes Pequea’s Residue Slicers, which cut through rolled-down triticale and hairy vetch ahead of the row units. He no-tills pumpkins in 45-inch rows between Memorial Day and the end of June.

Herington, Kan., farmer Shawn Tiffany shares how he and his brother, Shane, are utilizing cover crops for high-quality feed and improving soil health at the 32,000-head Tiffany Cattle Co. The operation is primarily a custom cattle-finishing facility that also includes a 1,200-acre farm where corn, winter wheat, silage sorghum and soybeans are no-tilled. Various cover crops are sometimes harvested as a second crop.

This webinar, sponsored by La Crosse Seed, examines some of the species of cover crops that are ideal for building aboveground biomass and providing quality feed for livestock. Scott Wohltman, agronomist and cover crop lead for La Crosse Seed, will lead you through this free webinar. [To view any of our webinar replays, you must be logged in with a free user account.]

Videos

Holtwood, Pa., no-tiller Steve Groff no-tills pumpkins with this Monosem planter that includes Pequea’s Residue Slicers, which cut through rolled-down triticale and hairy vetch ahead of the row units. He no-tills pumpkins in 45-inch rows between Memorial Day and the end of June.

Needham Ag understands the role of technology in making better use of limited resources within a specific environment by drawing on a wealth of global experience to overcome the challenges facing today's farmers, manufacturers and dealers.